about

The ever cultured house and techno outpost that is the Cinematic Label here serves up another tasty EP, this time from Belgium house and techno stalwart Klaina. Through a number of EPs and a full length, as well as his own radio show and parties in and around Belgium, Klaina has earned himself a reputation as someone who crafts sci-fi influenced, heavy linear sounds, and his ‘Semiplan’ track, along with remixes from The Rhythm Odyssey, JuJu & jordash, Amir Alexander, is no different.

The six-minute work is thick with otherworldly atmosphere as the sounds of hovering space ships encircle a stiff snare pattern and scattered kicks and toms. It’s evocative and loopy techno that hypnotises you through repetition and stands out for its crystal clear production and ravey little chord stabs.

Opening the great selection of remixes is Golf Channel Recordings’ The Rhythm Odyssey. He strips the track back to something more in line with deep house, though allows the spiralling sci-fi sounds to remain. A more rasping and rubber bassline is injected into the mix to add a little more dynamism, and the whole thing sounds like something Vakula might well have made.

Next up, Dekmankle’s JuJu & Jordash go even deeper with their remix, layering in plenty of analogue basslines that weave and wave up and down to bring a sense of liquidness to the whole outer-space arrangement. Pianos lurk in the background and keep you on edge, pulling you deeper and deeper into the fold with each little ripple.

Finally, Chicago’s Amir Alexander – a deep house producer with a keen ear for great synths on labels like Plan Be and Argot – does his thing to close out the EP: he strips it back to a mysterious 4/4 beat and injects rasping analogue notes, watery synths and itchy little hi-hats to keep things move forward. It sounds like a distant metropolis looks, frankly, as is as stimulating for the mind as it is the heel. Cinematic by name, Cinematic by nature – this is another special release from one of UK’s finest modern imprints.

credits

released October 1, 2012

Written, produced and arranged by Stef Nijs aka Klaina in Belgium.
*Remixed By Juju & Jordash
**Additional production & remix by The Rhythm Odyssey.
Recorded & mixed at Rogue Cat Sound.
***Remix, additional production, mixing and engineering by Amir Alexander at "The Catacombs Studio"